Biology

• CAS BI 583: Seminar: Progress in Cell and Molecular Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Open to graduate students only. - Facilitates presentation and discussion of research ideas, preliminary data, and research progress by all graduate students in Cell & Molecular Biology (CM). All CM graduate students are encouraged to participate every semester, but receive credits toward the degree only once. BI 583 (fall course) and BI 584 (spring course) can both be taken (4 credits total) for the degree.
• CAS BI 584: Seminar: Progress in Cell and Molecular Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Open to graduate students only. - Facilitates presentation and discussion of research ideas, preliminary data, and research progress by all graduate students in Cell & Molecular Biology (CM). All CM graduate students are encouraged to participate every semester, but receive credits toward the degree only once. BI 583 (fall course) and BI 584 (spring course) can both be taken (4 credits total) for the degree.
• CAS BI 586: Ecological Genomics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CAS BI 206 or BI 216) and (MA 115 or MA 213); or consent of instructo r. Also recommended are BI 303 and BI 309. - Course covers topics related to community ecology, population biology and organismal physiology. Lectures and readings are integrated with genomic analyses and statistics. Focus is on marine invertebrates; however, these tools are universal across microbes, fungi, plants and animals. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Digital/Multimedia Expression
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS BI 588: Project Design and Statistics in Biological Anthropology
  This seminar teaches students project design and statistics using R and Rstudio. Students will become competent in coding, version control, data reports and commenting code, and implement both basic and advanced statistics to be used in student research projects. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Scientific Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Scientific Inquiry II
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS BI 589: Neural Impacts on Tumorigenesis
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASNE203 OR CASBI325) - Explores neuronal invasion and mechanisms of neurogenesis into solid tumors, cross-talk in tumor microenvironments, and nervous system influence on cancer modulators that enhance tumorigenesis. Enhancement of cancer from environmental stress at this interface is also examined. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Scientific Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 591: Bio-Optical Oceanography
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: admission to the Marine Semester. - This field- and lab-based course explores how the optically active constituents in seawater affect the in-water light field, and in turn, how field optics and remote sensing can facilitate the study of marine biogeochemistry, biological oceanography and water quality. Also offered as CAS ES 591.
• CAS BI 593: Marine Physiology and Climate Change
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108) or consent of the instructor, and admission to the Marine Semester. - Explores the range of physiological responses marine organisms exhibit in response to climate change. Investigates phenotypic plasticity exhibited across different organisms and how this plasticity can influence an organism's resilience to its changing environment.
• CAS BI 594: Topics in Biology 5
  This course may be repeated for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisites vary with topic.
• CAS BI 595: Master's Research in Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Admission into the MS or BA/MS combined program - Biology laboratory research conducted under supervision of a faculty member. Externships are acceptable with prior approval. Minimum of 7.5 or 15 hours per week in the lab, culminating in submission of a written progress report.
• CAS BI 597: Graduate Directed Study in Biology
  Mentored directed study with a faculty member of the Biology Department. The directed study should involve graduate level investigation on a well-defined subject determined in consultation with faculty member.
• CAS BI 598: Neural Circuits
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI 325 or CASNE 203, and CASPY 106. - Reviews modern techniques and toolsets that are capable of dissecting neural circuits, which are critical for understanding how coordinated patterns of neural activity lead to complex behavior. Recent literature on information processing, guided behavior and cognition is discussed.
• CAS BI 599: Physiology of the Synapse
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing. Recommended: CAS BI 325 or BI 445 or BI 481. - Neuron development and maturation, synapse formation, structure and molecular components of synapses, synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter receptors, cellular basis for learning and memory, synaptic pathology in neurological diseases. Two hours lecture, two hours paper presentation and discussion.
• CAS BI 607: Animal Behavior
  Ethological approach to animal behavior. Physiological, ontogenic, and phylogenic causes and adaptive significance of behavior are examined within an evolutionary framework, minimally including humans. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
  • Research and Information Literacy
• CAS BI 608: Insect Biology
  Explores the biology of insects, focusing on insect diversity and complexity. Lectures focus on various aspects of insect biology, including development, physiology, behavior, ecology and evolution. The lab focuses on insect diversity, highlighting major insect orders and families. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
• CAS BI 610: Developmental Biology
  Contemporary aspects of development, drawing from current literature. Emphasis on the use of experimental approaches to address topics such as polarity in the egg, body axis specification, embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 611: Microbiome: Our Intimate Relationship with Microorganisms
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI203 (or equivalent) & CASBI206 (or equivalent) or consent of instructor. The microbial community - referred to as "microbiome" - that colonizes the human body plays an important role in our health. Topics include (1) the human microbiome; and (2) fundamental aspects of the interactions between animals and the microorganisms that reside with them. Three hours lecture; one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 613: Microbial Ecology
  Microorganisms are the most abundant, diverse form of life on Earth. Through lectures and discussions, this course views microbes in coordination with their environments, exploring how they evolve, move, metabolize, and interact in relation to their abiotic and biotic surroundings.
• CAS BI 614: Ornithology
  Examines the behavior, ecology, and morphology, physiology, classification, and evolution of birds. Flight, navigation, migration, territorial courtship, nesting, and parental behavior. Field trips. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion and demonstrations.
• CAS BI 623: Marine Biogeochemistry
  Oceanic nutrient and biogeochemical cycling in the context of the marine response to global change. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Topics include oceanic productivity, iron limitation, oceanic glacial carbon dioxide budget, biogenic particle fluxes, oceanic glacial-interglacial biogeochemistry.
• CAS BI 643: Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI107 OR CASES105) and CH 101/102, or consent of instructor. The patterns and processes controlling carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Topics include net primary production, nutrient use efficiency, and biogeochemical transformation.